Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus comprising a board with an array of upstanding pegs which have flat top surfaces. Sets of counters similar to checkers but with highly polished surfaces are provided, the counters designed to be deposited on selected pegs by means of a manual implement. The latter is a pair of sticks similar to Chinese chopsticks and having rounded, highly polished ends. Each counter is designed to be grasped between one of the ends of the sticks and carried for deposit as stated, this process imposing a hazard.

United States Patent 1 Blanton, Jr.

[54] BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Colecta E. Blanton, Jr., 9713S. Carpenter St., Chicago, Ill. 60643 [22] Filed: May 6, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 140,832

[52] U.S.Cl ..273/l R, 273/131 B,273/l31 D [5 l] Int. Cl. ..A63i 3/00[58] Field of Search ..273/1, 130,131,134,135,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS St. John ..273/130 A X DeLucia et al ..273/131 AC [451 Feb. 20, 1973 2,985,451 5/1961 Sims..273/l3l ll UX Primary Examiner-Dclbcrt B. Lowc Attorney-S. .l. Lehrer[57] ABSTRACT A game apparatus comprising a board with an array ofupstanding pegs which have flat top surfaces. Sets of counters similarto checkers but with highly polished surfaces are provided, the countersdesigned to be deposited on selected pegs by means of a manualimplement. The latter is a pair of sticks similar to Chinese chopsticksand having rounded, highly polished ends. Each counter is designed to begrasped between one of the ends of the sticks and carried for deposit asstated, this process imposing a hazard.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PA FEBZO 1915 3,717, 341

Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q T: Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 9 6 Q Q Q Q Q Q 9 T a 1 Q Q Q Q Q Q QQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 70 Q Q Q Y Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q C, 5 5 [an Z012]! .1!Zak/lay BOARD GAME APPARATUS My invention relates to board games, andmore particularly to the type in which assorted pieces or counters areapplied to parts arranged on the game board.

One object of the invention is to afford manual handling of the countersfor introductory placement, but require their handling and manipulationby a hazardous implement for procuring movements and placements duringthe playing of the game.

Another object is to employ a set of implements in the nature ofchopsticks and held in one hand by each player, such implements beingusable to pick up, move and deposit the counters in relation to an arrayof pegs mounted in the center field of the game board, the countersbeing in sets of a different color for each player and round andpolished in order to require skillful handling with the chopstickimplements in order not to drop from the same.

A still further object is to provide a game which is simple and presentshazards which challenge the skill and dexterity of the players.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the gameboard;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged frontal elevation in part, as seen from the line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the counters used in playing thegame; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of the chopstick implements, asheld in the hand for playing the game.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes the board of the game,the same being approximately 2 feet square. The parts located on theboard are arranged symmetrically to serve two players seated on oppositesides, or three or four players seated on adjacent sides.

Four sets of pegs 11 nine in each set are mounted along the sides of theboard, the pegs being upstanding dowels with polished surfaces and darkon top. The height of the pegs is approximately threefourths of an inch,and their diameter the same.

The board also receives an array of dowel-like upstanding pegs 12 in amedial field. These pegs are of the same diameter as the pegs 11, buttaller approximately 1 inches in height. These pegs have white tops andpolished surfaces. There are six pegs on each side forming a square of36 pegs.

FIG. 4 shows a pair of the chopstick implements 13 and the manner inwhich they must be held in the hand for playing the game. Theseimplements are not designed with flat surfaces in the manner of Chinesechopsticks for engaging objects broadly and frictionally. On thecontrary, the present implements are round sticks with hemisphericalends as shown, all very smooth and highly polished.

The counter 14 shown in FIG. 3 is similar to checker counters but not aswide, being of a diameter equal to that of the pegs 11 or 12. Thecounters come in four sets of different colors, each set containing ninecounters. Like the board pegs, the counters are smooth and highlypolished on all sides.

The game is initiated by depositing each set of counters one set foreach player on the set of pegs 11 situated in front of the player. Thismay be done by hand if time is to be saved; or, the counters may bepicked up, one by one, by means of the players chopstick implement anddeposited on the row of egs 1 l.

The playing of the game, after each set 0 counters has been deposited asmentioned, involves the placement of counters on selected pegs 12. Sincethese are taller than the pegs 11, the latter will not present obstaclesto reaching the pegs 12 from the side. Since the counters and the tipsof the implements are round and very slippery, skillful handling anddexterity will be required to accomplish each placement, with the riskof dropping the counter instead. Various rules may be devised to playthe game and define the hazards involved in picking-up, moving ordepositing the counters. Thus, a player may lose one point when he dropsa counter, or must sacrifice the choice of the selected counter to thenext player in such event. A player may score if he accomplishes aline-up of his counters in a vertical, horizontal or diagonalcorner-to-corner row of the pegs 12.

It will now be apparent that the present game is not only of afascinating character, but dependent on skill, dexterity and patience iffailures or other penalizing incidents are to be avoided. At the sametime, the game is simple enough to be played by both young and old, maybe played either by two, three or four people, and should provide aninteresting and amusing pastime.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board, an array of upstanding pegsthereon, the pegs cylindrical with tops flat and extending to the sidesof the pegs, polished circular counters with tops and bottoms flat, anda set of chopstick-like implements usable to pick up and depositcounters on desired pegs, the ends of the implements rounded andpolished to render said pick up and deposit hazardous.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said board being square with outer sets ofthe pegs located on each side for the introductory deposit of counters,and an inner group of pegs approachable over the outer set for selectivedeposit of counters on pegs of the inner group.

1. A game apparatus comprising a board, an array of upstanding pegsthereon, the pegs cylindrical with tops flat and extending to the sidesof the pegs, polished circular counters with tops and bottoms flat, anda set of chopstick-like implements usable to pick up and depositcounters on desired pegs, the ends of the implements rounded andpolished to render said pick up and deposit hazardous.
 1. A gameapparatus comprising a board, an array of upstanding pegs thereon, thepegs cylindrical with tops flat and extending to the sides of the pegs,polished circular counters with tops and bottoms flat, and a set ofchopstick-like implements usable to pick up and deposit counters ondesired pegs, the ends of the implements rounded and polished to rendersaid pick up and deposit hazardous.